It has been four years since the last motorsports event was held at Tri-City Raceway Park but that will change on Sunday, July 26th, as race cars will return to the speedway for the 2015 Opening Night Spectacular featuring the Atkinson Fire Safety BRP Modified Tour, Hilltop Hardwood 410 Sprints, R.K. Virgile and Ultra GRAPHIX sponsored 305 Sprints and the Joy Global UEMS E-Mods.
Tri-City Raceway Park numerology fanatics should also note that this is our third attempt at getting the 2015 Season Opener on the books. In addition we have weathered two rainouts (May 17th and June 21st). We are looking forward to Opening Night (July 26th) with great anticipation as we begin a new era at Tri-City Raceway Park.
"The support we have received from the local community as well as race fans and teams throughout Western PA and Eastern OH has been overwhelming," stated Chad Wagner, the speedway's Director of Operations. "The weather certainly hasn't been on our side but that has not dulled the enthusiasm of the race teams and the fans. We are definitely looking forward to welcoming everyone back to the track on Sunday."
The July 26th program will feature a $5,000 to win Modified Tour'15 main event. "The DIRT Modifieds always put on an excellent show. They were one of the speedway's premier divisions in the 1990's and 2000's so we definitely wanted them to headline the 2015 opener," stated Wagner.
The 40 lap main event, sponsored by Atkinson Fire Safety, has drawn interest from DIRT teams in New York and New Jersey and they will certainly provide the Mod Tour regulars with quite a challenge. Defending Mod Tour Champion Rex King, Jr. has already scored victories at Lernerville Speedway (Sarver, PA) and Sharon Speedway (Hartford, OH) and would definitely enjoy winning this week's main event. In addition to King, Jr., local favorite Jeremiah Shingledecker (Polk, PA) is also looking to pick up the win. Shingledecker has struggled thus far in 2015 and will be looking to 'turn his season around' on Sunday. Rex King, Sr., Mat Williamson, Kevin Hoffman, Dave Murdick, Brad Rapp and Garrett Krummert are among the Modified contenders expected to be in action. Jim Weller, Jr., the winner of the Big Block Modified portion of the Lou Blaney Memorial that was held at Sharon Speedway on July 11th is guaranteed a starting spot in this Sunday's main event.
The 410 Sprints have also been a staple at the speedway and they will also be in action this Sunday. They will battle in a 25 lap main event paying $2,000.00 to win. Veterans Ed Lynch, Jr. and Rod George are quite familiar with the speedway and visited victory lane on many occasions when the division saw action each week; both are expected to be in action this weekend. Carl Bowser, Eric Williams, Dan Kuriger, Scott Priester and Jack Sodeman, Jr. are also among those expected to challenge for the victory.
In addition there are plenty of new faces just waiting to make their debut in the Tri-City Raceway Park Victory Lane. Recent Penn State graduate A.J. Flick will be looking to make his first ever laps in a Sprint Car at the speedway. Flick, a graduate of the Pro-Stock division, is a third generation racer who scored his first ever victory in an open wheel car on June 5th at the Lernerville Speedway. Other "Young Guns" expected to join in the chase for the victory include Sye Lynch, Brandon Spithaler, Brandon Matus and Zach Morrow.
The UEMS E-Mod Series will also battle at the Tri-City Raceway Park on Sunday. Like the Big Block Mods the E-Mods always put on an excellent show at the Venango County oval. The 25 lap main event, sponsored by Joy Global, will pay $1,000 to win and $100 to start. Carl McKinney and Shawn Shingledecker are two veterans who are quite familiar with the Dempseytown oval and both will be looking to visit Victory Lane on Sunday. Vic Vena, Steve Dixon, Dan Davies, Evan and Jonathan Taylor and Joel Watson are also expected to be in action this weekend.
The Outlaw Sprint Warriors will round out this weekend's racing action. The division, which competes weekly at the Mercer Raceway Park, is one of the most competitive in the tri-state area. Cody Bova, George Hobaugh, C.J. Jones, Evan Kornbau, Mike Marano II, Darin Gallagher and Kotie Kirkbride are just a few of the MRP regulars expected to battle for the $800.00 first place prize money. Competitors should note that Mercer Raceway Park's rules for the division will be enforced.
Race fans should also note that this Sunday is "Christmas in July" at the speedway. "We will have free gifts for the first 1,500 fans attending. Santa Claus will also have a few toys for the children in attendance," continued Wagner. Adult race fans should also note that ticket packages for the World of Outlaws Labor Day Weekend at Lernerville Speedway, Sharon Speedway's Apple Festival Nationals and the McKean County Raceway's Fall Classic will also be given away.
Due to feedback that the Tri-City Raceway Park management has received from drivers, teams and fans who attended Saturday night racing events at several area speedways that are now closed, we will have an announcement next week on a special Saturday night racing program for these divisions.
Pit gates for Sunday's event will open at 3:00PM with General Admission gates opening at 4:00PM. Hot laps will begin at 5:15PM and the racing action will begin promptly at 6:00PM.
Grandstand Admission for Adults 18 and over is $15.00; Students (13 through 17) $5.00 and Children 12 and Under are Free. A Family Pass which includes Two Adults and a maximum of four students is $35.00. Pit Admission is $30.00.
Drivers are reminded that Raceivers and AMB transponders are mandatory. In addition there will be a Mandatory Drivers Meeting at 5:00PM and the Pill Draw will end at 5:15PM.
Camping is permitted and is free of charge however there are no hookups.
Fans and drivers are also encouraged to sign up for raceday weather alerts by clicking on the "Rained Out" logo on the speedway website, www.tricityracewaypark.com. In the event inclement weather forces the cancellation of our evening's racing action you will be among the first to know.
Tri-City Raceway Park has more than $25,000.00 in purse money to distribute this weekend as well as many other prizes for race fans who will be in attendance this weekend. It's a new era at the Tri-City Raceway Park and we look forward to kicking it off this Sunday, July 26th!!
